Orlando Boating Accident Attorneys

With the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean surrounding most of the state and over 30,000 lakes and 25,000 miles of river in between, it should come as no surprise that there are over one million registered boats in the State of Florida. After you add in all the unregistered boats, it becomes easy to see why Florida leads the nation in the number of boating accidents.

At Bailey Fisher, we know that a boating accident can cause devastating physical and emotional injury to a victim. If you or a family member were injured in a boating accident that was caused in whole or in part by someone else’s negligence anywhere in the State of Florida, our experienced Orlando boating accident attorneys will aggressively fight to ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable, and you are fully and fairly compensated for all your injuries.

What Causes Orlando Boating Accidents?

According to a report issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), there were 751 reportable boating accidents in 2021. “Reportable” boating accidents do not include boating accidents that caused property damage estimated at less than $2000 or injury accidents that only required immediate first aid. In 2021, 60 people lost their lives in a Florida boating accident and another 469 people were injured. While a boating accident may be caused by a variety and/or multiple factors, the FFWCC report indicates that the top 10 contributing factors for a Florida boating accident in 2021 were:

1. No proper look-out/inattention (227)
2. Operator inexperience (92)
3. Other (52)
4. Machinery failure (51)
5. Excessive speed (45)
6. Carelessness/recklessness (36)
7. Weather (35)
8. Hazardous water (29)
9. Alcohol/drug use (28)
10. Off throttle steering-jet & hull failure (tie) (18)

What Types of Injuries Are Commonly Sustained in a Florida Boating Accident?

The most common source of injury in a Florida boating accident is impact with the boat, followed by impact with a fixed object, other causes, being struck by a boat or boat equipment, and impact with the water respectively. Boating accident victims may sustain numerous types of injuries, including:

• Lacerations
• Contusions
• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Back injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Internal injuries
• Burns
• Amputations
• Spinal injuries
• Injuries to teeth and jaws
• Neck injuries
• Shock
• Hypothermia
• Dislocations

Who Is Responsible for Injuries in a Florida Boating Accident?

If the negligent or wrongful conduct of another party caused or contributed to a boating accident, that party may be held legally responsible for injuries sustained by a victim. For example, if defective boat parts or equipment contributed to the accident, anyone involved in the “chain of distribution” could be held liable. Negligence on the part of a boat operator, boat rental company, or occupant of a boat could also result in liability for injuries sustained by a victim. Negligence is a legal term that requires an injured victim to prove that a party breached the duty of care owed to the victim. In a boating accident scenario, common examples of conduct that might be considered negligent include:

• Operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driving too fast for the conditions
• Driving a boat recklessly
• Failing to properly inspect and/or maintain the boat
• Violating any of Florida’s boating regulations and safety requirements.

What Compensation Am I Entitled to in an Orlando Boating Accident?

If you were injured in a boating accident, or you lost a family member in a fatal accident, you could be entitled to monetary damages for the physical, emotional, and financial trauma you suffered which may include compensation for things such as:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish, stress, depression
• Diminished capacity to enjoy life
• Decreased income
• Diminished earning capacity in the future
• Past and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitative care
• Scarring, disability, disfigurement
• Loss of companionship, guidance, and assistance

Get Help from Experienced Orlando Boating Accident Attorneys

If you were injured in a Florida boating accident, or you are the surviving family member of someone who was fatally injured in one, you could be entitled to compensation from the responsible party or parties. To allow you to focus on healing, you need an experienced and dependable attorney to help you navigate the often-complex legal system. At Bailey Fisher, we would be honored to be your voice and advocate on your behalf.

The Orlando boating accident attorneys at Bailey Fisher have extensive experience helping injured victims receive the compensation they deserve. We are dedicated to making sure at-fault parties are held accountable when victims are injured in a Florida boating accident. We will aggressively pursue all potentially responsible parties to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for all your injuries.

Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando boating accident attorneys will evaluate your case for free. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and losses.